Performance by cohort

3 year bands · 13,803 tests

Pass rate climbs 1.7 points across the cohorts — newer S 1000 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.

Pre-2018 cohort 8,941

Pass

91.1%

Fail

4.0%

PRS

4.6%

Avg mileage at test

16,770 mi

2018–2020 cohort 4,572

Pass

93.4%

Fail

2.7%

PRS

3.9%

Avg mileage at test

9,809 mi

2021+ cohort 290

Pass

92.8%

Fail

3.8%

PRS

3.5%

Avg mileage at test

6,223 mi

Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.

The picture

S 1000: a strong MOT record by UK norms

Across 9,099 MOT tests, the S 1000 returns 90.9% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a missing rear reflector. A non-conforming number plate and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 12,932, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 26–44

Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.

Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →

26–44

out of 50

Compare quotes →

Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

Hide wear items to see the model's real defects.

01

Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements

57 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
02

Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear

54 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
03

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

49 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
04

A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED

47 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
05

Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute

40 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
06

Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm

38 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
07

A footrest missing or insecure

27 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
08

A wheel bearing excessively rough

23 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
09

A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

21 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
10

Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution

20 occurrences · 0.1% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£85–£210

If every one of this S 1000's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Year-band analysis

Best year to buy. Worst to avoid.

First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 2.3-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy BMW S 1000 makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.

Best band to buy

93.4%

2018–2020 registration

the 2018–2020 band climbs to 93.4% — a 2.3-point improvement. Tests in this band average 9,809 miles — roughly 7K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: does not conform to the specified requirements, missing — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.

Band to be cautious about

91.1%

Pre-2018 registration

On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 91.1% pass rate against a fleet average of 93.4% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: does not conform to the specified requirements, not working on dipped beam, and flashing more than 120 times a minute. Average mileage on test for this band is 16,770 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.

Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (93.4% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (91.1% pass). That's a 2.3-point spread across 8,941 older tests and 4,572 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.

Year-spread leaderboard →

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

MOT-spec replacement number plate

Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

Item 03 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

My Motor World · affiliate

Parts & supplies for this fix

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Summit

Summit ADRG-640 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS

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Summit ADRG-904 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS

£10.99

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Summit ADRG-905 BMW Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS

£10.99

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Draper Expert

Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW

£18.69

View at My Motor World →

Click Mechanic · affiliate

Book a mobile mechanic

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Mobile mechanic · UK-wide

Book a mechanic at your door.

Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.

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Buying or keeping a S 1000?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a S 1000 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.